My first reaction is one of shock that immediately turns to anger. What the fuck is he doing here?! Why is he stopping me? I'm not doing anything wrong or in violation of the contract. And if I am, so what? I'll take my punishment like I always have. As far as I can tell, I'm not in any danger; I'm in a room full of people and Erika's got my back, just like I have hers.

What about his date with blondie? Shouldn't he be entertaining her? All these thoughts and questions run through my head as I stare up at him. In a fit of pique, I shake off his hands, turn around, and start dancing again with Frankie who's standing there with a puzzled look on his face. As he also starts to dance again Luke places his hands back on my shoulders. This time instead of turning me around they start pushing me off the dance floor.

Now Frankie is looking pissed. He seems ready to take on Luke and I shake my head vigorously while trying to send mental vibes that say you do not want to mess with this man but Frankie doesn't seem to get the message. He gets up in Luke's face and starts screaming that I'm with him. People around us are beginning to stare and some of them slow down their dancing to look at us. I'm worried that a bouncer will come over and try to throw us out.

I spot Erika making her way over with my drink. Over her shoulder, I also see a big, burly guy walk towards us while speaking into a walkie-talkie. Just as I feared, security's getting involved. Luke's hands are still on my shoulders and now Frankie, totally unaware of the bouncer's approach, is getting verbally abusive, first towards Luke and then towards me.

Overtaking Erika, the bouncer inserts himself between the three of us. He first looks at me and appears to be asking me if I'm all right; the noise level is so high all I can do is try to read his lips. I nod my assent, hoping that I'm answering the right question.

Frankie's backed down a little and the bouncer turns to him next. It's impossible for me to hear what they say but I think Frankie's getting an ultimatum. He lifts his hands in a quasi-surrender gesture and backs away but first he gives me a dirty look. With that, he disappears into the crowd.

Bouncer Man finally turns to Luke and surprise, surprise, they appear to know one another. They smile at each other and exchange a few words that I can't hear. Evidently the crisis is averted because Bouncer Man also disappears into the crowd but not before he and Luke exchange a bro shake.

Luke places his hands on my shoulder again but I shake him off; this time he leaves them off, probably because I'm walking away from the dance floor. I'm still pissed so I take my drink from Erika and try to figure out a way to salvage this evening.

More than half my mojito is still in the glass but I down it in one gulp. When I look up I see Idris Elba's love child tap Erika on the shoulder. She turns around and looks up at him, her expression changing from one of annoyance with me to one of smiling adoration of him. Well, fair's fair; I take her drink from her and nod toward the dance floor. She and Idris Lookalike waste no time heading out there.

I spot an empty table along the wall and make a beeline for it, grabbing one of the stools seconds before a couple gets there. They bug off, leaving both stools free. I plop my ass on one of them, put Erika's drink and my empty glass on the table, then lean back against the wall to observe. Well, this evening just went to hell in a handcart.

Deliberately ignoring Luke (who appears to be blondie-less) on the other stool, I watch Erika having a good time with Idris Lookalike. They've both got some sick moves and soon they look good enough together to compete on Dancing with the Stars. After a couple songs they exit the dance floor. Erika looks around for me and when she spots me they come over. At this point I'm thinking all I'm doing is holding her back. I dig my car keys out of my purse and hand them to her, telling her if she's not up to driving then just call me. She nods at me in affirmation.

I give up my barstool to her and make a "come on" motion with my head to Luke. He hops off his stool and Idris Lookalike grabs it. Good. They can enjoy their evening together while I have Luke take me home.

Once we're outside I follow him to the SUV. I climb into the passenger seat; after starting the engine he asks me where I'd like to go and I tell him home. We ride in silence, an uneasy silence, at least for me. I don't know why I'm so annoyed but I am. Ever since seeing him with blondie the evening's taken a nosedive straight into the shitter. And it bugs me that I feel that way. My mood is getting more and more foul.

"What is it, Severine?"

"Huh?" Not a very articulate response but he jolted me out of my dark ruminations.

"I sense that you're bothered by something. Would you care to tell me what it is?"

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Yeah, I'm bothered by something but hell if I'll tell him what it is.

"You're unusually quiet this evening. Anger or unhappiness, I don't know what it is but a whole lot of negative feeling is radiating from you. You might feel better if you talk about it."

"It's nothing. Nothing at all." Why does he even care? What's it to him? Leave me alone; I just want to sit here and enjoy my sulk.

"You know I had to get you away from the dance floor, don't you? I didn't like to see you being groped the way you were."

Seriously? That's why he interfered?

"My orders are to keep you safe. Considering how belligerent your dance partner was, I don't think the evening would have ended well for you."

Oh, for fuck's sake!

"IT WAS JUST A FUCKIN' DANCE, YOU NITWIT!" I scream, finally pushed over the edge. I understand he has a job to do but that was just ridiculous.

"I didn't like the way he was looking at you," he responds, infuriatingly calmly.

I take a deep breath before responding. "I just wanted to dance, okay? Just fuckin' dance, that's all. I wasn't going to bed with him, I wasn't looking for a relationship with him, I just wanted to fuckin' dance with him."

"Yes, I understand that, Severine, and maybe your dance partner wouldn't have been a problem but I couldn't take the chance. It was also very crowded on that dance floor and I could see several guys had their hands all over you."

We're pulling up to my apartment building's parking lot so I hold my tongue. As soon as the SUV is in park I jump out and head for the lobby. He's right behind me; I guess he's intent on coming upstairs with me.

I keycard my way through the lobby door and bound up the stairs; Luke is right on my heels. As soon as I turn the key in my front door lock he pushes it open and all but pushes me inside. He brushes past me and proceeds to check out the apartment. I'm puzzled since there haven't been any threats against me after Mystery Lookalike Chick was disappeared. For an instant, Carl's fate pops into my mind but just as quickly floats away.

After closing the door I stand in the living room, waiting to see what else he plans to do. He and I need to have some words about boundaries. This is totally unacceptable. I understand that he needs to ensure my safety, it's part of his job, but he's gone beyond the pale.

I can hear him opening the closet doors in my bedroom and now I start to worry. Is there some threat that I don't know about? Just as I'm thinking about following him in there I see him make his way back to the living room. He's looking straight at me and I'm wondering what's on his mind.

He walks directly towards me and then stands right in front of me so it seems like we're only inches apart. I look up at him and our eyes lock. There's warmth or heat or something radiating from him; it feels like he's going to combust but it's not frightening.

As I gaze into his eyes I start to see what looks like conflict going on in his mind. His lips have the very slightest quiver to them. He's wrestling with something, I can tell, and I wish he'd just come out and say it. I'm starting to get scared.

"Whaaaat?" I croak, sounding annoyed and hoping he gets the message.

And suddenly, with absolutely no prompting on my part, his arms are around me and his lips are on mine.

OMFG!

I'm stunned into paralysis. All I can do is stand there and absorb this. It's wrong, yes, yes, this is so wrong but why am I not resisting? I should be pushing back, struggling to escape.

It's a chaste kiss; he's not forcing himself into my mouth, just pressing firmly against it, and I start to succumb. I begin to relax and absorb his embrace. It's like lying on the warm sand of a tropical beach; I feel like Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity. I'm protected, not threatened, and for a brief moment the horrible memory of Carl's "embrace" pops into my brain; this is so very, very different.

My arms are the first to react; they reach around him and bring him closer. He reacts in kind, intensifying his hug. I revel in his masculine strength, wishing I could stay locked together with him forever.

Next to respond is my mouth – it opens ever so slightly and he seizes the opportunity. Not violently but not tentatively either, I guess cautiously would be the proper word. He's testing the waters, so to speak. His tongue meets mine and they begin a slow tango, savoring each other.

We continue exploring until we're in a full-blown game of tonsil hockey. I'm flying on autopilot here, just letting my body take over. I've never experienced anything like this and it feels so good. I don't know what's going on but I don't want it to end.

As close as our bodies are pressed together I can sense just about every muscle of his. I also detect that something else, namely his ardor, has grown and is pressing against me. Oh my! I feel myself blushing like a virgin bride.

Something snaps in my mind and I push away from him.

"No!" I blurt out, "No! This is wrong!" I'm shaking my head and looking anywhere but at him.

He gently takes my hand and leads me to the couch; he sits down and pulls me next to him. I'm still not looking at him; I'm looking down and can't help but notice that his ardor hasn't diminished. A corresponding reaction is developing in my nether region and, while pleasurable, it makes me uncomfortable. This is not right.

"Severine, look at me," he commands gently. I struggle but eventually look up into his eyes. OMG, the warmth in his gaze would melt butter.

"I've been wanting to say this to you for weeks but I could never work up the courage. I finally decided to tell you tonight and let the chips fall where they may. Severine, I'm in love with you. God forgive me, but I am."

I swear my heart stops. And of all things, I'm reminded of a movie I saw way back in grade school, a scene from Camelot.

"Well, Luke, then God better forgive us both because I think I'm in love with you, too."